Dangerous levels of hidden salt in packaged foods – including bread – make it “almost impossible” to stay within safe limits for salt intake, fuelling an epidemic of high blood pressure and making it vital that families discuss heart health over meals.

"Universal health coverage and #HealthForAll is about ensuring that no one is left behind in being able to access quality healthcare. This is particularly pertinent for Australia as we have not realised universal health coverage. To me it is completely unacceptable that we live in one of the richest and well-developed countries in the world and yet our First Peoples continue to experience widespread socioeconomic disadvantage and health inequality compared to other Australians."

Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco are a powerful response to rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, according to the most comprehensive analysis to date of evidence on expenditure, behaviour and socio-economic status, published today in The Lancet.